The Ultimate Guide to Pricing Fundraiser Products

Pricing is where fundraisers either make their money or leave it on the table. Get it right and supporters barely hesitate. Get it wrong and even the best cause stalls.

Here's the short version: keep prices round and obvious, price to perceived value rather than cost, understand the three-way split, offer a ladder of options with your most popular price in the middle, and test small before you commit.

The golden rule: keep it simple

The easiest prices to sell are round, obvious numbers: $20, $50, $100. "Buy a $50 voucher, $10 goes to the school" is instantly understandable. Complicated pricing — percentages, tiers, add-ons — creates hesitation, and hesitation costs sales.

Price to the value, not the cost

Supporters buy on perceived value. A $50 voucher for a café that would cost them $50 anyway feels like a straight swap with a cause attached. A $60 price for a $50 voucher feels like a donation with a bonus. Both work — but be honest about the deal, and never make supporters feel taken advantage of.

Understand the three-way split

With voucher fundraisers, the sale is split three ways:

• The business receives its wholesale price (which it sets).
• The fundraiser keeps at least 10%.
• The platform takes a small fee (5% + GST) on the sale.

Make sure the numbers work for everyone before you launch. If the business's price plus your share pushes the sale price too high, adjust before publishing. The business-side version of this math is in our voucher pricing guide — the same numbers, from the business's chair.

Offer a ladder of options

Different supporters have different budgets. A $20 option, a $50 option and a $100 option cover most people — and the $100 buyer often chooses the middle option instead of nothing. Ladders gently nudge people up without pressure.

Anchor with the middle

People compare options. If you offer $20, $50 and $100, the $50 looks reasonable next to $100 and generous next to $20. Put your most popular price in the middle and feature it.

Test small before you commit

If you're unsure, run a small pilot — 20 vouchers at your chosen price — and watch what happens. If they sell fast, you may have priced low. If they crawl, adjust. Real data beats guesswork. The simple metrics guide shows what to watch.

Be transparent about what's raised

Show supporters exactly what their purchase achieves: "Every $50 voucher sends $10 to the team's travel fund." Transparent pricing builds trust, and trust is what turns a one-off buyer into a repeat supporter.

Pricing isn't about squeezing the most from people. It's about finding the number where supporters feel good, businesses feel valued, and your cause gets the funding it deserves.

Frequently asked questions

What's the best price for a first fundraiser?

$50 is the sweet spot for most groups — big enough to raise meaningful money, small enough that supporters don't hesitate.

Should we offer different priced options?

Yes — a ladder of $20, $50 and $100 covers most supporters, with the $50 in the middle where it looks best by comparison.

Who decides the sale price for vouchers?

The business sets its wholesale price and share; your page shows the sale price. If it's too high for your supporters, ask the business to adjust — most will.

How do we know if our prices are right?

Test small and watch the data: fast sellers may be priced low, slow sellers may be priced high. Twenty vouchers at your chosen price tells you more than any theory.

Should we show supporters what they're raising?

Always — "every $50 voucher sends $10 to the team" is the single most powerful pricing line you can write.